DEPARTMENT OF MAMMAT.S. 203 



rodiicrd (liniiiJL;- tlie yeiir, ;is ciicumstaiices demaiuUMl. In addition, the 

 taxidennists of the Museum have made ui» a eoiisideiable number of 

 skius leeeived by the Dei)aitment of Agriculture in an imperfect condi- 

 tion as regards i)reparation. The Museum has also supplied cases, 

 wood and ])aper trays, glass vials and stoppers, and lal)els as called for. 

 One clerk has been employed <'ontinuously in cataloguing the speci- 

 mens, and additional assistance has been given on one or two occasions 

 wlien the inHux of specimens was unusuall.\' large. During the month 

 of April two clerks were emi)loyed continuously. 



In Sei>tend)er the curator called attention to the unsatisfactory con- 

 dition of the dej)artment of taxidermy, and shortly afterwards was 

 requested to take charge of the matter and reorganize the force. The 

 force tlien consisted of only three regular taxidermists and one volun- 

 teer, and the number was not increased until spring. One was, how- 

 ever, designated to take general charge of tlie work, under superintend- 

 ence of the curator. Certain a])pliances needed to facilitate work were 

 obtained. The skins which had accumulated in tln^ vats — some 400 in 

 number — were examined and their exact condition and their suitability 

 for mounting oi' addition to tlu^ reserve seiies determined. A card 

 catalogue of the whole, giving the detailed infornuition regarding each 

 skin, obtained by this investigation, was prepared in duplicate, one copy 

 being i)laced in the hands of the ])rincipal taxidei-mist and the other 

 held b>^ the curator. 



In March preparations for a display in the World's Columbian Ex])o 

 ])osition were begun and have continued uninterruptedly since that 

 date. A general plan was submitted and approveil and steps were 

 taken to obtain the necessary material for exhibition. The force of 

 taxidermists w^as then increased and a special worksho]> was fitted up 

 for their use. Mr. Willia-m Palmer was appointed chief taxidermist 

 and the number of regular taxidermists was increased to six. One 

 special lal)orer Mas also added. It is perhaps unnecessary to speak of 

 this work mor(^ in detail in this place, as a full report of what is ac- 

 comi)lishe(l will be made at a later date. 



The last entries in the several catalogues in June. ISOI. were as 

 follows: 



Regular series : 



Catalogue of skius aud :ilooholics 19^ 482 



Catalogue of skulls - - - . , 3^, 144 



Department of Agriculture (I(:-iiosit : 



Catalogue of skius 28, 4)^0 



Catalogue ot'skulls 40. ry.U 



The following papers, based entirely or in part upon tlie collection of 

 the Museum, were publivshed in the Proceedings of the Xational iMnseum 

 by the curator au<l other collaborators during the year: 



Observations on the Life History of the Hottleuose Por])oise, by Frederick W. True. 

 Froc. U. S. 2iat. Muh., vol. xiii, ))]>. 1H7-203. 



